Billfold



Sept. '1-, 1942. L. 1 sHERwooD BILLFOLD Filed Sept. 5, 1941 Patented Sept. 1, 1942 circo sTATssPATENT OFFICE BILLFOLD Lester L. Sherwood, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 5, 1941, Serial No. 409,625

2 Claims.

My invention relates to a billfold and has for its principal objects, to generally improve upon and simplify the construction of the existing forms of billfolds, to provide a billfold that does not require sewing or stitchingV in its production, thereby materially decreasing manufacturing costs, and further, to provide a relatively simple and practical billfold having a number of pockets or compartments adapted to conveniently receive paper currency, checks, business cards, stamps, and the like.

A further object of my invention is, to provide a billfold of the character referred to that comprises only two main parts and which are maintained in nished condition by two short lacings of leather or the like, and which lacings are located so that they are not subject to wear while the billfold is carried in the pocket.

A further object of my invention is, to provide a billfold having inner walls or partitions that depend from the rear and front walls of the billfold and to provide simple and efficient means for establishing a connection between the lower edges of said inner walls or partitions, thus maintaining the same in proper position at all times within the billfold.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the main body portion of my improved billfold as the same appears before being folded into finished form.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a flexible wall or partition forming a part of my improved billfold.

Fig. 3 is an elevational View looking against the billfold as the same appears when open.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3..

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 6 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on the line 'l--l of Fig. 3.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, 10 designates generally the main body of the billfold, the same being formed from a single piece of thin flexible material, preferably leather, and which is cut to the desired shape by a suitable die or dies.

A rectangular section II of the exible material forms the rear or outer Wall of the billfold,

CII

papers.

Formed integral with the edge of section II opposite the edge to which the member I2 is connected are substantially rectangular sections I5 which fold along the dotted lines I6 and provide the front walls of pockets adapted to receive cards or the like. These sections or walls I5 are spaced apart longitudinally of the completed billfold and thus, when the latter is open, an opening I'I is formed between the inner edges of the sections I5 and said opening being midway between the ends of the billfold.

Formed integral with the edges of the sections I5 opposite the edges that are connected to the rear or outer wall section II are substantially rectangular sections I8 which fold along the dotted lines I9 so as to occupy positions immediately behind the sections I5 and directly in front of the wall or partition I2.

In order to divide the space between the wall sections I5 and I8 when properly folded into pockets, a rectangular section 20 of thin flexible material, such as leather, is inserted between the folded sections I5 and I 8 with the intermediate portion of said member 20 extending across the opening II.

Formed integral with the central portions of the longitudinal edges of the section 2D are narrow strips of material 2| that are folded downwardly and secured by suitable adhesive to the rear or inner face of the section 2l), thus reinforcing the upper and lower edges of saidsection at the central line of fold.

Formed integral with the ends of the sections I8 opposite the ends that are connected to sections I5 are narrow naps 22 which, when the sections I8 are folded downwardly between the end portions of the inserted section 20 and the inwardly folded wall or partition I2, are folded up- Wardly on the dotted lines 23 so as to occupy positions between the lower edge of section I2 and the rear or outer wall I I.

The construction just described provides an interlock o1' connection between the lower edges of the sections I8 and the wall or partition I2, thus holding the engaged parts of the billfold and particularly the sections I 8 in proper folded positions, and at the same time enabling the wall or partition I2 to be pulled upwardly so as to give access to the secret pocket or compartment between said section I2 and the outer wall II of the billfold body.

Formed integral with the ends of the section Il that forms the outer wall of the billfold are substantially triangular sections 24 that overlie the end portions of the sections I5 when the same are folded upwardly into proper position in front of the end portions of the wall or partition I2,

' and thus the inwardly folded members 24 close the outer ends of the pockets between the members I5 and I8 and the interposed member 20.

Formed integral with the lower edge of outer wall member I I between the sections I5 isk a, ShQlt tab section I la which is folded upwardly and secured to the inner face ofthe lower portion of outer wall I I by a suitable adhesive, thereby reinforcing the lower portion of the center of outer wall Il` at the medial line on which the same is folded so as to be carried in the pocket (see Fig. 7

When the members 26 are folded inwardly onto the end portions of members l5, the lower edges of said members 2d occupy horizontal positions above the lower edge of the billfold and these lower edges are secured to the sections I5 a short distance above the lower edges of the latter by lacings 25, preferably narrow strips of leather, and which lacings pass throughperforations 26 that are formed in end members 24 just above their lower edges and through similar apertures 2'( that are formed through the sections l5 adjacent the lines of fold I6.

Thus the lacings when properly positioned in the apertures are located above the lower edge of the billfold and when the same is folded on a medial line that extends through the center of insert and through the members II and I2, Athe lacings are protected against wear while the billfold is carried in the pocket.

Inasmuch as my improved billfold isy composed of only two main pieces of material besides the two laces, manufacturing costs are materially decreased, and due to the absence of stitching and the protection of the lacings' against wear,

the life or period of service of my improved billfold is materially increased over those constructions wherein rows of stitching Aare utilized to maintain the various walls and partitions in assembled relation.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a billfold that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the Various parts of my improved billfold, may be made 'and substituted for those herein shown and described, Without departing from the spirit of my invention, the s cope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I; claim as my invention:

1.` A billfold formed in a single piece from thin flexible material and comprising a rectangular section that forms the outer wall of the billfold, a section formed integral with one of the longitudinal edges of said outer wall section and occup-ying' ar positionV directly against the inner face of said outer wall, spaced pocket forming walls integral with the opposite longitudinal edge of said outer Wall section, which pocket forming walls are folded double so as to form inner and outer pocket walls, iaps formed integral with the outer ends of the pocket wall forming members, which flaps occupy positions between the back forming section and the section that forms a wall immediately in front ofsaid back section, flaps formed` integral with-.theends of said back section and which overlie` the outer faces of the outer walls of the pocket forming sections and lacings connecting the lower edges of said flaps with the outer walls of the pockets, which lacings are located abovethe lower edges ofthe outer walls-of said pockets and the lower edge of the billfold.

2.y A bi-llfold` as set forth in claim 1 and with a separately formedi partition wall located between the sections of material forming the front andrear walls of the pockets.

LESTER L. SHERWOOD. 

